In the lead-up to the upcoming governorship elections in Imo, Kogi, and Bayelsa states, the White Witches and Wizards of Nigeria have made predictions regarding the outcomes of the gubernatorial polls scheduled for November 11 in these three states.
Okhue Iboi, the spokesperson for the group, shared their insights with the media over the weekend, delivering a cautionary message to political figures in the running. He issued a warning to Hope Uzodinma, Imo State Governor of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dino Melaye, People’s Democratic Party (PDP) gubernatorial candidate in Kogi, and Timipre Sylva, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in Bayelsa , urging them to take heed of wise counsel to avoid losing their respective elections on November 11.
Iboi’s analysis suggests that in Imo, the main contenders will be Athan Achonu from the Labour Party (LP) and Samuel Anyanwu from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), challenging the earlier speculation that Governor Uzodinma’s incumbency might give him an advantage. He also urged security forces to enhance security measures in the politically charged and volatile state to prevent potential violence during the election.
Iboi explained, “When we convened to assess the three off-cycle governorship elections, we scrutinised all the political parties and their candidates, evaluating their chances of winning. It was evident that Governor Uzodinma faces significant unpopularity among his constituents. His tenure began due to legal technicalities rather than popular support, leading to him being mockingly referred to as the ‘Supreme Court Governor.’ The ongoing violence in the state further complicates his position as his people perceive him as a sponsor of the Unknown Gunmen (UGM) responsible for the violence and property destruction. Unfortunately, this is the unsettling reality we observed in our deliberations.”
In Kogi, the White Witches suggested that the election would be a contest between Murtala Ajaka from the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and Dino Melaye from the PDP, emphasizing that Governor Yahaya Bello’s failure to field his deputy as his successor had already cost him support.
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Iboi stated, “The SDP stands as strong as the APC and the PDP in the state. However, Governor Yahaya Bello appears to have sabotaged his own prospects by ignoring advice against fielding his deputy. This decision will likely result in a loss for him in the election. We predict some level of violence in Kogi, but Bello will still not secure victory. As for Dino Melaye, his stubbornness and arrogance might lead to his downfall. We have invited him for strategic discussions, but his pride could be his undoing. If he ignores our advice, the election outcome may come as a shock to him.”
Regarding the Bayelsa poll, Iboi suggested that Timipre Sylva’s chances were bleak. “As previously predicted, he faced setbacks in securing the APC candidacy. Now, he is battling to maintain his candidacy, which was contested in court. If he manages to regain it, our forecast doesn’t foresee him making substantial progress in the election,” he explained.
